Touching lives

The first time I retired (I’m not very good at it), I got antsy to do something. Oh, I was doing stuff. Mostly hanging out around Charleston, SC, paddling the black water swamps. That had been something on my list. But, it gave me thinking time and I quickly came to know I wouldn’t be satisfied unless I also did something that mattered. When I got home, I made a list of all the things I had enjoyed doing, whether it was for profit or pay, or just volunteering. Most of the best things I had done for nothing. That helped me plot a rough course. Over the recent holidays, I caught up with some people I haven’t seen in a while. Someone asked me about my paddling activities. There was a follow-up question about the portion that entails managing a club and organizing paddling events and what that requires. And the final question, “Why would you do all that instead of just paddling by yourself or with a few friends?” That took me back over three decades to one of my favorite jobs. I was publishing a monthly magazine that was a how-to for aspiring writers. Not technical, promotional or other “profession” genres, but mostly those who embraced the dream of being a published author. It wasn’t a magazine genre that generated a lot of revenue, so we were staffed pretty thin. Also, the production technology at the time was primitive (typewriters, cut & paste vs. electronic layout, etc.), so no amount of planning averted the feverish all-nighters at the end of the month. When the boards for each issue finally were packed up and sent to the printer, it was our custom to meet in the editor’s office. He’d pull out a bottled of good whiskey and some paper cups from his bottom desk drawer and we’d toast another good job done and wax philosophically. One evening, during a contemplative pause in the chatter, a production assistant piped up. “The hours are long, the work is hard and stressful, and the pay stinks. Why do we do this?” I don’t recall having given it extensive thought so I was almost surprised with the answer that emerged from my lips. “Because we touch people’s lives. We could be grilling steaks, selling copy machines or painting walls for more money, but it wouldn’t have the same impact or significantly change the quality of life for them. We touch people’s lives.”